A Seaside Wedding Celebration at Cliff House | A Spring Wedding in York, Maine

There’s something magical about spring on the coast of Maine. The ocean breeze, the soft light, the fresh blooms. It sets the scene perfectly for a day filled with beauty, love, and coastal charm. That’s exactly what unfolded at Cliff House in York, Maine. This is where Nina and Ethan celebrated their wedding surrounded by their closest people, ocean views, and so much joy.

I’ve photographed many weddings across New England, but this one felt like an intimate, heartfelt gathering with friends. This is exactly how Nina and Ethan wanted it to be. You can see from the photos that Nina’s wedding party, especially, had so much fun and supported her throughout the day in so many ways. We love a girls girl around here! From start to finish, their day was full of warmth, laughter, and those genuine, candid moments. As a hybrid film and digital wedding photographer, it is important that each wedding I photograph is viewed in a documentary approach. Capturing candid moments is a huge part of what I do. Film instantly sends you back to the moment with a great feeling of instant nostalgia, while film brings in the heavy leg work and grabs all of the in-between moments with speed and quality.

The Morning of, a cinematic view in the Cliff House wedding suite

The day began in the Cliff House’s airy oceanfront suites, where the excitement was palpable. Nina was surrounded by her bridesmaids, sisters, and mom. Each person was buzzing around with champagne in hand, listening to the best pop mix, and getting hair and makeup done by the lovely Jenna Sweet and the Powder Room. The suite was vibrating with an excited energy. It reminded me of the feeling of chaotic-good energy that happened before dances in high school with your friends. Every girl knows the importance of having the right people by your side during these moments. It was clear that everyone in the room was there to support Nina and Ethan’s special day. Peak girlhood at its finest!

During a quiet moment after she was dressed in her full lace bridal gown, I had Nina take a photo on a vintage medium format camera. Here is the digital behind the scenes as well as the final result!

Just down the hall, Ethan and his crew were equally relaxed, joking around and helping each other with ties, cufflinks, and the occasional pre-ceremony toast. The light pouring in through the windows was perfect—clean, coastal, and timeless. To avoid stress, we kept the candid shots simple and natural. No posing, no cheesy smiling at the camera. Just pure organic moments for Ethan’s wedding party and family. The only time that we strayed from this was during these portraits of Ethan. We took a moment to move down the hallway for a quiet moment and more cinematic lighting.

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First Looks on the Cliff House Shore

First looks are a modern wedding trend that has swept the wedding community in the last handful of years. Nina and Ethan’s day was no exception to this modern practice at their Cliff House wedding. Nina first had a first look with her bridesmaids to show off her wedding dress as pictured above in her getting-ready photo portion of the day. Next, you will find a first look with her dad on the balcony of the Cliff House, ocean view suite. This moment was extremely emotional and hit me right in the feels! Truly a moment of authentic father-daughter love.

For Nina and Ethan’s first look, we found our way down to the iconic cliff path that the hotel overlooks. No Cliff House wedding is complete without at least a handful of photos on the rocky shore. The truly breathtaking landscape adds so much depth to their final gallery and allows for some truly beautiful portraits of Nina and Ethan. The Cliff House lives up to its name with views like this. I’ll let the photos do the rest of the talking for this portion of the blog post.

After Nina and Ethan had some time to explore the cliffs, and we rounded out their portrait time, we had the wedding party join us and grabbed a handful of wedding party photos on the cliffs as well

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Ceremony in the Clouds

The ceremony took place on the lawn overlooking the ocean, with the waves crashing gently below and soft spring florals lining the aisle. Guests arrived in colorful attire and smiled from their seats, watching as Nina walked down the aisle with a view that felt straight out of a postcard. The couple hired a string Quartet, Occasional Brass & Strings to serenade the ceremony. It added the perfect, elegant touch.

Their officiant wove together personal stories and heartfelt words, making everyone laugh and cry within minutes. The vows were raw and emotional, the kind that remind you what a wedding is really about. And when they kissed for the first time as a married couple, the crowd erupted with cheers and happy tears. As they walked back up the ceremony aisle, Ethan leaned Nina into a dip as their guests threw rose petals into the air. Picture-perfect (if I do say so myself!)

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Cocktail Hour and Wedding Reception

The cocktail hour and reception were held in one of Cliff House’s beautiful indoor spaces, with floor-to-ceiling windows that let the golden hour light pour in. The design was coastal but elevated—subtle textures, soft tones, and just the right amount of spring color. Guests mingled over signature cocktails and passed appetizers, sharing hugs and stories with the couple at every turn.

The sun peeked out across cocktail hour on the patio between the hotel and the venue space. It lit up the guests, and the sky even showed off with a rainbow!

Once everyone found their seats in the formal dining room, the speeches and family dances got the guests emotional yet again. Belly laughs and tearful smiles filled the room. You could tell that this was more than a wedding—it was a celebration of community, history, and deep love.

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As the evening came to a close, I stepped back to take in the scene: the newlyweds glowing, guests dancing freely, the Atlantic stretching endlessly into the night. It was one of those weddings that stays with you. Not because of the grand venue or simply the beauty of the day, but because of the quiet authenticity woven through every moment.

Nina & Ethan, thank you for inviting me to be part of your day and for trusting me to capture the story of your love. I am so freaking happy for you both!! – Emily

Vendors:

Vendors: 

Venue: Cliff House // cliffhousemaine.com 
Catering: Cliff House //  cliffhousemaine.com 
Officiant: Reverend Tori Rosati 
Photographer: Emily Leonard // emilyleonardphotography.com 
Florals: York flower Shop // yorkflowershopmaine.com
Videographer: Alexander Balzano // alexanderbalzano.com 
String Quartet: Occasional Brass & Strings // occasionalbrass.com 
DJ: Unforgettable Entertainment (Chaz Greenberg) // uedjmaine.com 
Hair: Jenna Sweet // jennalsweet.com
Make-up: Powder Room Studio // powderroomstudio.com
Transportation: Ogunquit Trolley // ogunquittrolley.com
Dessert: Anthony’s // anthonysfoodshop.com